Other infections

Building on our strong track record in research into the control of blood-borne viral and sexually transmissible infections, we have broadened the scope of our work to include tropical diseases, vaccine preventable diseases, and epidemic response.

Tropical Diseases

Topical diseases are infecitous diseases that occur in tropical and subtropical locations.

Malaria is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world. Our work in malaria involves mathematical modelling and statistical approaches to improve our understanding of how the malaria parasite grows in the human body and how this interacts with available treatments. This understanding will contribute to new tools to support malaria eradication.

Scabies is an under-recognised cause of morbidity in many developing countries, with more than 130 million people infected worldwide. It is strongly associated with impetigo which can lead to systemic infection, leading to septicaemia, kidney and heart disease. The Kirby Institute is leading a world-first trial of mass drug administration in Fiji, where researchers found that one round of ivermectin reduced the prevalence of scabies by 94 per cent one year after the intervention. This trial has been extended to the Solomon Islands.

Vaccine preventable diseases

Vaccines are the best way to prevent the spread of potentially life-threatening infectious diseases. Although public attention has recently focused on improving vaccination rates in Australian infants and children, the largest unvaccinated group of people recommended for immunisation are adults. With a specific focus on high risk adult populations such as the frail elderly, migrants, and refugees, our research expertise spans clinical trials, epidemiology, mathematical modelling, and social and behavioural research to remove barriers to access, inform policy, and evaluate existing intervention strategies.

The Kirby Institute conducts a number of clinical trials on influenza designed to uncover risk factors for disease severity. There is global concern that an avian virus could evolve and become capable of human-to-human transmission, resulting in a serious pandemic. We are involved in surveillance activities to closely monitor the changing global landscape of avian influenza and assess the risk of pandemic potential.

Epidemic response

Led by the Kirby Institute, the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence, Integrated Systems for Epidemic Response (ISER) conducts applied systems research, enhances collaboration, and builds capacity in health systems research for epidemic control. We bring together experts in field epidemiology, epidemic response, military experts, international law, risk science experts, government and non-government agencies involved in epidemic response.

Healthcare workers, who are first responders in emergencies, were at a significantly higher risk of infection and death during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Our research involves contributing to the evidence base for appropriate selection of personal protective equipment and improving knowledge and attitudes about the equipment among healthcare workers and other first responders.

The Kirby Institute, together with other leading experts in clinical, laboratory and public health research, is part of APPRISE, the Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Diseases Emergencies. We will contribute our expertise in designing and running systems for monitoring epidemics.